"If we're talking about a camping spot..."
Tsuneo stared at the map spread out on the table. He extended a finger, closed his eyes, circled the air above it, and then stabbed down.
"I'm afraid that spot won't work," Dr. Agasa said, scratching his head.
"Where is it?" Akemi also leaned in to get a better look at the map.
Beika Town, 2-Chome. It appeared to be right in the neighborhood of Dr. Agasa's house...
"Doctor, where did you want to go?" Tsuneo looked at him.
The logic was simple: they just needed to pick the exact opposite direction.
"Don't make it sound like any place I choose is guaranteed to have an incident..." the Doctor said, looking exasperated.
Even if something happens, it's not this old man's fault—it's yours and Shinichi's!
You two better realize that!
"That is undoubtedly true. If we were to split into two teams, the problems would certainly arise on the side with you and Edogawa," Haibara remarked coolly from the side, turning a page of her newspaper. She delivered the verbal jab with surgical precision.
"Who says? Ever since I went to Osaka to pray for fortune, nothing has happened to me, okay!" Tsuneo cried out, defending his honor.
That Namba Hotei Shrine, or whatever it was called, is actually pretty effective!
At least it's not scamming people like the Beika Shrine.
"Heh." Haibara turned another page. She didn't speak, but that single chuckle said everything.
You've run into plenty of things already!
"Is it really that effective?" Both Dr. Agasa and Akemi suddenly wanted to go see it for themselves.
Just as the three adults were chatting, Haibara suddenly slid a newspaper across the table.
"Take a look at this."
Her small face had grown considerably more serious.
The photo on the newspaper showed a middle-aged man; he was the chairman of a large corporation. The report stated that this chairman had been assassinated by a sniper during a public speech and had died on the spot.
"Uh, I don't know him." Tsuneo shook his head.
He had heard about this incident a couple of days ago. The chairman was a significant figure, and his death had sparked quite a bit of discussion.
But if you're implying I put a curse on him, that's just not right. I'm not close with him!
Maybe Conan knows him...
"This chairman's company has very close dealings with another specific company." Haibara's expression was grim.
"Let me see..." The Doctor picked up the newspaper, wanting to examine exactly what shocking content was written there.
What could have frightened the child like this?
"This electronics company???"
The Doctor quickly noticed something strange.
The newspaper listed several enterprises associated with the late chairman. Among them, one electronics company looked very familiar.
"Oh, it's that female president who died in the park," Tsuneo recalled the incident.
Back then, he had reported it to the police along with Ran and Conan. The scene had been clean and efficient—one shot, one kill. The police had concluded it was the work of a professional hitman and had launched a major investigation.
But that case was all but confirmed to be the work of the Black Organization, so naturally, nothing came of the investigation.
If that's the case, then this incident—sniping a target in full view of the public—was likely done by Gin leading his 'brilliant' sidekicks?
"Ahem, let's get back to deciding on a camping spot!"
The handyman tossed the newspaper aside and returned his attention to the map on the table.
Today it's a president, tomorrow a chairman, the day after it might be some councilman.
You just get used to it.
"Tsuneo-kun, is this person also related to that Pisco character?" Dr. Agasa glanced at Haibara before asking.
This child was too prone to overthinking at the slightest sign of trouble.
"Definitely related. And there were probably plenty of Public Security officers at the scene, too," Tsuneo nodded casually, eyes still on the map.
Bourbon—Amuro—knew that Gin was planning to move against someone recently. He likely had people stationed around potential targets long ago.
With so many ways to kill someone, choosing a public sniping suggests Gin is being very aggressive this time...
"What should we do?" Haibara adjusted her hair, her brow furrowed.
Even though she had changed her appearance...
"Go to school peacefully, do your research. We aren't the police." Tsuneo found a location on the map that looked decent.
The place the Doctor chose might have traps; best to avoid it...
After dinner that evening, Tsuneo received an international phone call.
"Hello? Are you even listening to me?!" An angry middle-aged actress was on the other end of the line.
Tsuneo gave a weak smile and said, "Ms. Yukiko, for this kind of thing, you should really be complaining to your son."
Why do people call me about their family disputes...
"I called him two or three times, but the line was busy, or he just wouldn't answer!!!" Yukiko ranted on.
Conan is probably at the Detective Agency, so he can't talk freely. But indirectly, that's just fueling her rage...
"Yusaku went out early yesterday morning, and when I finally waited for him to come back, he was dead drunk! It makes me so mad!"
Tsuneo moved the phone a little further away from his ear to escape the high-decibel shrieking.
"It's normal for a bestselling author to have some social engagements," the handyman said, not feeling it was a big deal.
"What kind of social engagement results in lipstick marks on his collar?!" Yukiko's volume shot up another notch.
Tsuneo: "..."
"Don't talk about these things on the phone." On the other end, it sounded like Yusaku had come out to stop his wife.
"Heh, heh, heh..." Tsuneo already wanted to hang up.
Having known them for a while, he knew they were indeed the type of couple that had to have a petty argument every so often.
After a moment, Yusaku took the phone and asked, "So, have you encountered any tricky cases recently?"
"Seems you've got the wrong person..." Tsuneo said helplessly.
He was just a handyman, not a detective. Yusaku probably assumed Yukiko was calling her son to complain.
"Is... is that so? How have things been lately?" Yusaku asked with a laugh, glancing at his still-fuming wife nearby.
Why did the call go to Tsuneo...
"What? I'm getting ready to have him fix you up good! You got a problem with that?!"
They seemed to be arguing again on the other side.
"Hey, do you two actually have business or not?!" Tsuneo rubbed his temples and shouted into the receiver.
Truly a headache-inducing couple...
But considering they sent him food every now and then, he had to endure it.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask you about Shinichi's current situation." Yusaku calmed his wife down and asked about his son.
"He's probably on the verge of being exposed recently, but I found him a good actor..." Tsuneo explained the plan to have someone disguise themselves as Kudo Shinichi and appear alongside Conan.
"This actor... is it Kaitou Kid?" Upon hearing this, Yusaku tilted his head, a smile spreading across his face.
Now this... this is getting interesting...
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